That's so cool!

I love the looks of the Fortress, and the Mitchell too.
Back in 2000, the EAA's B-17, Aluminum Overcast, came to Ponca City, about an hour from here. One of the reporters from the local paper got to go cover it and fly on it, and invited me to go along as his photographer. (He said that he thought I would appreciate it more than the actual photographer would have.) No kilts (I didn't own any then) and low quality pics, because of the poor digital camera I had.


The crew chief is giving us the safety briefing before takeoff.


A puff of smoke as the engine starts.


This gentleman was a former B-17 crewman. He's in the radio op's position.


The funnel with the hose on it is the "relief tube" for getting rid of any excess fluids the crew might have brought on board.


The tail position, for Scott Gilmore.


Looking aft from the radio position.


The port engines, seen from the navigator's position. With the fields, it's easy to imagine taking off with the 8th Air Force to bomb "Fortress Europe." Fortunately, no 109s or 190s showed up on our flight. (I think the guns were all dummies, so we'd have been hosed.)


View from the bomb-aimer's position.


The payload.

My uncle flew 25 missions with the 8th out of England. The chance to see the kind of craft he flew was truly an amazing experience.